"We are here to provide information about the safety of our products and practices," said Monsanto organizers in front of the Maui County Building.

With messages on signs, hats, shirts and more, Monsanto workers packed the lawn, cheering for bio-tech; for the jobs it provides and the food it creates.

"I think the initiative will threaten not only agriculture, but a lot of great jobs for the people of Maui," said Monsanto employee Lowella Oasay.

Through a series of pre-recorded clips and an unusually aggressive PR campaign, leading bio-tech company Monsanto employees laid out their case for Genetically Modified Crops in Hawaii and around the world.

Top Monsanto employees say they dropped off stacks research, showing their work is safe, but on Monday, came a stack of petitions, more than 10,000 in all, to put Monsanto's work on Maui to a vote.

"It's telling me that people are gravely concerned," said Mark Sheehan about the signatures collected.

He's part of the group Shaka Movement that is collecting enough votes to put an initiative on the ballot this fall that would put a moratorium on GMO crops, until he said, Biotech companies prove genetically modified crops are safe.

"The manufactures can prove us that these pesticides are safe and not putting our citizens at risk," he said.

Maui County councilwoman Ellie Cochran said she needs to see more transparency, not just documents, before she can offer her support to bio-tech companies.

"That's not enough. There needs to be a definite sound disclosure. (The bio-tech companies) need to notify and let people know what it is they are doing," she said.

Once the county verifies that at least 10,000 of the signatures on Shaka Movement's petition are legitimate, the initiative can be added to the November ballot.

Call it a CLASH of the P-R campaigns. The "Big Dogs" are out in Maui County -- in the fight over "Genetically Modified Crops." That... as THOUSANDS of jobs... hang in the balance. KITV4's Lara Yamada joins us with the petition that could STOP one MAJOR corporation.... in its tracks. Lara. Bio-Tech Company Monsanto has been the prime target for those against GMOs FOR YEARS -- and now -- a petition drive could result in a MORATORIUM on ALL Biotech companies in Maui County. But this time... not before Monsanto -- fights back. BROLL 433-39 We are here to provide information about the safety of our products and and practices. With messages on signs, hats, shirts and more, Monsanto workers packed the lawn in front of the Maui County building -- cheering for Biotech: the jobs it provides and the food it creates. BROLL 615 save our farmers! BROLL 441 I love the research, I love what I do... 46-54 I think the inititative will threaten not only agriculture but a lot of great jobs for the people of Maui. And, through a series of pre-recorded clips, and an unusually agressive PR campaign -- leading biotech company -- Monsanto employees laid out their case for Genetically Modified Crops -- in Hawaii -- and around the world. 413-18 We don't discriminate. and i dont think anybody else should either. BROLL 506 walking into mayors office. Top Monsanto employees say they dropped off stacks of documents, research, showing their work is safe. But today, came a stack of petitions, more than 10,000 in all, PHONER MARK SHEEHAN 4322-25 It's telling me that people are gravely concerned. ...To put Monsanto's work here to a vote. Mark Sheehan is one of 5 from what's called Shaka Movement, collecting enough votes to put an inititiave on the ballot this fall -- that would put a moratorium on GMO crops, until he says, Biotech companies PROVE its safe. PHONER MARK SHEEHAN 4415-27 so that the manufactures can prove us that these pesticides aren safe and not putting our citizens at risk. Maui County councilwoman Ellie Cochran says she needs to see more transparency before she can offer her support... Not just a stack of documents.. PHONER ELLE COCHRAN 3525 That's not enough. There needs to be a definate sound disclosure and you need to disclose! 34 PHONER ELLE COCHRAN 3614 They need to notify and let people know what it is they are doing. 18 The SHAKA movement says they've already gathered more than 11-thousand signatures that have been presented to Maui County. Once the county verifies at least 10-thousand signatures ... The initiative will be on the ballot this fall.

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A bill to rezone agricultural land in West Oahu faced the people who live in that community Monday night. After passing a first reading last week, a city council committee brought Bill 3 out for a public hearing.